Anti-theft lamp adapter

Abstract

An adapter for lamps and other electrical devices to be installed in standard lampsockets which prevents unauthorized removal of such lamps or other electrical devices. A screwshell means is placed upon a body member such that relative rotation between them is possible. A tool or key placed in aligned slots or keyways prevents relative rotation so that the adapter can be installed or removed from a lampsocket. The tool or key is then removed permitting relative rotation again, whereby the lamp or other electrical device cannot be removed from the lampsocket. Use of the tool or key fixes the two components with respect to one another and the adapter can be removed.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. An anti-theft lamp adapter for engaging a hollow socket and a center base contact, said adapter comprising: a) a body member formed of insulating material, having a first end and a second end;   b) a two terminal lighting device positioned adjacent said body member second end;   c) hollow screwshell means having an external screw thread positioned over the body member and adjacent said first end of said body member, so dimensioned and arranged that it can be made to engage the hollow lamp socket having a hollow screwshell;   d) washer means for coupling said hollow screwshell means to said body member first end, said washer means permitting said hollow screwshell means and said body member to rotate about a first common longitudinal axis of said lamp adapter with respect to one another;   e) selectively positionable tool means having a first position engaging said body member and said hollow screwshell means preventing relative rotation of said hollow screwshell means and said body member to permit said adapter to threadably advance into a lamp socket or withdraw from the lamp socket and a second position not engaging said body member and said hollow screwshell means whereby said body member and said hollow screwshell means remain free permitting relative rotation and preventing an adapter to threadably advance into a lamp socket or withdraw from a lamp socket;   f) said body member comprises: (i) a first generally cylindrical portion having a first diameter, a first end and a second end parallel with and spaced apart from said first end to describe therebetween a first distance;   (ii) a second cylindrical portion having a second diameter less that said first diameter, a third end adjacent said first end of said first cylindrical portion and a fourth end parallel with and spaced apart from said third end to describe therebetween a second distance;   (iii) a third cylindrical portion having a third diameter less than said second diameter, a fifth end adjacent said fourth end of said second cylindrical portion, and a sixth end parallel with and spaced apart from said fifth end to describe therebetween a third distance;   (iv) a conical portion having at its base a fourth diameter less than said third diameter, said base adjacent said sixth end of said third cylindrical portion;     g) said hollow screwshell means has a plurality of open slots along said first end, each of which can be aligned with a slot in said body member; and   h) the insertion of said selectively positionable means in said slot in said body member and said aligned slot in said hollow screwshell means, fixes the position of said hollow screwshell means and said body member such that rotation of said body member rotates said hollow screwshell means so that said adapter can be made to threadably engage or threadably disengage an electrical lamp socket.   
     
     
       2. Anti-theft lamp adapter as defined in claim 1, further comprising: a) a slot in said first, second and third cylindrical portions, each extending inwardly from its outer cylindrical surface and terminating along a second common longitudinal axis displaced from said fast longitudinal axis;   b) said slot extending for a portion of said first distance adjacent said first end of said fast generally cylindrical portion;   c) said slot extending for said second distance of said second cylindrical portion and said third distance of said third cylindrical portion; and   d) through the base of said conical portion.   
     
     
       3. An anti-theft lamp adapter as defined in claim 2, wherein said screwshell means is a cylindrical member having a first end and a second end, said first and second ends separated by a distance generally equal to said third distance of said third cylindrical portion and having an interior diameter in excess of said third diameter of said third cylindrical portion to permit said screwshell means and said body member to freely rotate with respect to one another. 
     
     
       4. An anti-theft lamp adapter as defined in claim 3, wherein: a) said screwshell means has an inturned annular rib adjacent said second end with an interior surface to engage said sixth end of said third cylindrical portion and an exterior surface; and   b) said coupling means is connected to said conical portion of said body member and overlies a portion of the exterior surface of said annular rib to retain said screwshell means upon said body member while permitting relative rotational movement of said screwshell means and said body member and maintain electrical continuity with said screwshell means.   
     
     
       5. An anti-theft lamp adapter as defined in claim 1, further comprising: a) a slot in said first, second and third cylindrical portions each extending inwardly from its outer cylindrical surface and terminating along a second common longitudinal axis displaced from said first longitudinal axis;   b) said slot extending for a portion of sad first distance adjacent said first end of said first generally cylindrical portion;   c) said slot extending for a second distance of said cylindrical portion; and   d) said slot extending for a portion of said third distance adjacent said fifth end.   
     
     
       6. An anti-theft lamp adapter as defined in claim 5, wherein said screwshell means is a cylindrical member having a first end and a second end, said first and second ends separated by a distance generally equal to said third distance of said third cylindrical portion and having an interior diameter in excess of said third diameter of said third cylindrical portion to permit said screwshell means and said body member to freely rotate with respect to one another. 
     
     
       7. An anti-theft lamp adapter as defined in claim 6, wherein: a) said screwshell means has an inturned annular rib adjacent said second end with an interior surface to engage said sixth end of said third cylindrical portion and an exterior surface; and   b) said coupling means is connected to said conical portion of said body member and overlies a portion of the exterior surface of said annular rib to retain said screwshell means upon said body member while permitting relative rotational movement of said screwshell means and said body member and maintain electrical continuity with said screwshell means.